Consin



F. L. HU TCH|NSO'N.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, I919.

1,382,645, v Patented June 28,1921

. i 4 v ElwueMk? HWMMQ clrm s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK L. HUTCHINSON, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOIR. T0 STERLINGENGINEERING (10., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WIS- CONSIN.

STEAM-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 28, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. HUTGHIN- soN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State ofWisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Traps, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to steam traps.

The object of my invention is to provide such a trap with an improvedcap piece from which the expansible thermostatic valve controllingchamber may be adjustably supported and the means of adjustmentconcealed in such a manner that it will not be tampered with byuninformed persons; also to utilize the means of concealment in part toprevent leakage past the adjusting screw,

. and in part as a means for attaching the name plate of themanufacturer and dealer, whereby the expense of attaching such nameplates is reduced to a minimum and the rimary purpose of the plate as ameans or concealing the adjusting device is obsoured.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of an outlet valve mechanismhaving a cap piece embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view drawn to a plane which includes theaxes of the inlet and outlet ports.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughoutboth views.

The casing 1 is provided with an inlet port 2 and an outlet port 3. 4 isa coupling member rotatively connected with the casing at the inlet portto facilitate connecting an inlet pipe or duct leading from a radiatoror radiator system. 5 is a clamping nut for engaging the swivel flange 6of the coupling member 4.

The casing cap 8 is provided with an interior tubular projection or boss9, within which a hanger screw 10 has threaded engagement. The hangerscrew 10 is attached to the upper wall of a thermostatic expansionchamber 11, the bottom wall of which is provided with a valve 12normally suspended at a slight distance above the valve 13, whereby,when the thermostatic chamber 11 expands, the valve will move downwardlyto its seat and will close the inlet port 2 against the pressure of thefluid.

All of the above described parts may be of ordinary construction, and asthe mode of operation of the valve controlling thermostatlc chamber iswell known in the art, further description is deemed unnecessary.

But it will be observed that the cap 8 is provided with a raised head15. Where the cap is to be screwed into the top of the casing asindicated at 16, this raised head 15 has one portion thereof squared ormade in the form of a hexagon as indicated at 17 whereby a wrench may beapplied to unscrew the cap. The aperture in the boss 9 which receivesthe adjusting screw 10 is extended upwardly through the top wall 19 ofthe head to an enlarged circular recess 20, the side walls of which arethreaded at 21. And at the base of this threaded portionan annularseating 22 is provided to receive a packing disk 23 composed of rubberor other suitable material. This packing disk is compressed upon theannular seating 22 by a circular metallic plate 25, preferably formed ofbrass and adapted to be utilized as a name plate. This plate is securedin position by an annular clamping ring 27 screwed down upon the marginsof the disk 25 and leaving the central portion of the disk exposed inthe recess 20 whereby the reading matter and symbols upon the name platemay be exposed to view.

I preferably employ a locking screw 28 for locking the hanger screw 10in the desired position of adjustment. After the screw 10 has beenturned to a position in which it will hold the thermostatic chamber 11and the valve 12 in. the proper position of adjustment, the lockingscrew 28 will be inserted through the recess 20 and screwed down fromthe top until it bears upon the screw 10 and causes the threads of thelatter to bind against the threads of the socket. The rubber gasket orother packing disk 23 is then inserted into the recess 20 and clampedupon the seating 22 by the metallic disk 25 and the threaded annularclamping nut 27.

It will be understood that the cap 8 may be secured to the casing 1 withany desired degree of permanency calculated to prevent its removal byunauthorized person for any readjustment of the thermostat may be madeby the engineer after removing the ring 27 This ring preferably has asmooth exposed surface so that it can only be re moved by the engineeror some person having some special tool for the purpose, such 110 i forexample, as an expander clutch. If readjustment of the thermostaticchamber is required, the engineer removes this ring 27, together withthe disk and rubber gasket 23, after which he unscrews the locking nutor screw 28, and then inserts a screw driver or equivalent tool, to turnthe hanger screw 10 toiraise or lower it as may be required, replacingthe parts after the desired adjustment has been made.

It will, therefore, be apparent that the screw threaded joint at 16 maybe cemented to prevent any possible leakage, and to also prevent theremoval of the cap 8 except b the application of extraordinary force. tis also apparent that quick access may be had to the upper end of thehanger screw 10 by any authorized person familiar with the structure andprovided with suitable operating tools. It is further apparent that noextraordinary precaution is necessary to prevent leakage along the screw10 for the reason that the rubber disk 23 will eifectrv ally prevent theliquid from escaping through the recess 20. I claim 1. The combinationwith a thermostatic outlet valve casing provided with fluid supply andoutlet ports, of an apertured cap piece having a recess in its uppersurface in communication with the aperture, a removable member seated insaid recess and adapt ed to form a fluid tight closure covering andconcealing said aperture, and means for clamping said member inposition.

2. The combination with a thermostatic outlet valve casing provided withfluid inlet and outlet ports and having a cap provided with a centrallydisposed aperture adapted to receive an adjusting screw, the walls ofsaid aperture having a shouldered seating, a member mounted on saidseating and adapted to close said aperture, and a ring nut threaded inthe cap in the outer end of the igp'erture in clamping relation to saidmem 3. The combination with a thermostatic outlet valve casing providedwith fluid inlet and outlet ports and having a cap .provided with acentrally disposed aperture adapted to receive an adjusting screw, thewalls of said aperture having a shouldered seating, a member mounted onsaid seating and adapted to close said aperture, and a ring nut threadedin the cap in the outer end of the aperture in clamping relation to saidmember, and a metal plate interposed between the clamping member andsaid member and exposed to view through the central portion of the nut.

4; The combination with a thermostatic outlet valve casing provided witha caphaving a raised central portion, said cap having a circular recesstherein from the central portion of which a tubular aperture leadsdownwardly through the cap from the base of the recess, an adjustingscrew having threaded engagement with the wall of said aperture andadapted to support a thermostatic member within the casing, a packingdisk seated in said recess in a position to cover said aperture andadjusting screw, a metallic disk covering the packing disk and a ringnut having threaded engagement with the wall of the recess and adaptedto clamp the metallic disk and packing disk in fluid tight relation tothe cap, said valve casing having fluid inlet and outlet ports below thecap.

5. The combination with a thermostatic outlet valve casing provided witha removable cap having a raised central portion, said cap having acircular recess therein from the central portion of which a tubularaperture leads downwardly through the cap from the base of the recess,an adjusting screw having threaded "engagement with the wall of saidaperture and adapted to support a thermostatic member within'tli'ecasing, a packing disk seated in said -'re'cessin a position to coversaid aperture and adjusting screw, a metallic disk covering the packingdisk and a ring nut having threaded engagement with the wall of therecess and adapted to clamp the metallic disk and packing disk in fluidtight relation to the cap, said valve casing having fluid inlet andoutlet ports below the cap.

Intestimo'ny whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK L. HUTCH'I'NSON.

lVitnesse's A. N. GoFF, M. ANDEL.

